Cattle slaughter prohibited in Kandy

Indika Polkotuwa

The Kandy Municipal Council on Monday decided to prohibit the slaughter of cattle within the Kandy city which is a World Heritage Site.

In keeping with the decision, the slaughter house maintained at Suduhumpola under the Municipal administration would be closed down with effect from March 15, said Kandy mayor Mahen Ratwatte.

The proposal to prohibit slaughter within the municipal limits was passed by the council with the support of all members except three at a meeting held on Monday presided by the mayor.

Council's opposition leader Neranjan Wijayaratne said he wished to thank the mayor and the Council on behalf of the entire opposition and on his personal behalf for the bold decision taken to prohibit animal slaughter in a city which is the repository of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Nearly a 100 herd of cattle and 150 goats were slaughtered daily at the Suduhumpola slaughter house which dates back to nearly a century.